QUARTERBACKS
Ohio State quarterback C.J. Stroud has 1,222 yards passing, 16 touchdown passes and one interception. He ranks second nationally in passing efficiency. His 16 touchdown passes are tied for No. 1 in the nation. He is 12th in passing yards.
Evan Simon and Gavin Wimsatt shared the quarterback job in the first three games for Rutgers (3-1, 0-1 Big Ten) but Simon got all the snaps in a 27-10 loss to Iowa last week when a leg injury sidelined Wimsatt. Last season’s starter Noah Vedral has not played yet this year because of an upper body injury.
Advantage: Ohio State
RUNNING BACKS
TreVeyon Henderson and Miyan Williams have both played like No. 1 running backs so far. They both ran for more than 100 yards in a 52-21 win over Wisconsin last week.
Rutgers averaged 227 yards rushing in its first three games before being held to 61 yards on the ground by Iowa. Kyle Monangai (157 yards, 2 touchdowns) and Al-Shadee Salaam (145 yards, 2 touchdowns) are the Scarlet Knights’ leading rushers.
Advantage: Ohio State
RECEIVERS
Emeka Egbuka (26 catches, 442 yards, 5 touchdowns) had his third game of 100 or more receiving yards in the win over Wisconsin. Tight end Cade Stover is emerging as another receiving threat. Jaxon Smith-Njigba apparently suffered a setback and did not play against Wisconsin after returning to action against Toledo.
Aron Cruickshank, in his third season at Rutgers after playing two seasons at Wisconsin, leads the Knights with 18 catches. Shameen Jones and Johnny Langan have eight catches.
Advantage: Ohio State
OFFENSIVE LINE
Ohio State’s offensive line continues to play at a high level. The Buckeyes averaged 6.0 yards per carry in the running game and did not allow a sack against Wisconsin.
Rutgers tried to add depth to its offensive line this season by bringing in four transfers, including starting left tackle Willie Taylor. Right tackle Hollin Pierce started 12 games last season.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE LINE
Second-year defensive end Jack Sawyer has had a sack in Ohio State’s last two game and a total of three tackles for losses in those games.
Defensive ends Wesley Bailey (5 tackles for losses, 2.5 sacks) and Aaron Lewis (17 tackles, 3 tackles for losses) are the leaders at this position for Rutgers.
Advantage: Ohio State
LINEBACKERS
Tommy Eichenberg’s total of 14 tackles against Wisconsin was only three off his career-best of 17 in the Rose Bowl.
Deion Jennings (29 tackles, 4 tackles for losses) leads Rutgers’ linebackers.
Advantage: Ohio State
DEFENSIVE BACKS
Cornerbacks Jakailin Johnson and Jyaire Brown built some trust for the rest of the season with the way they played filling in for injured starters Cam Brown and Denzel Burke against Wisconsin.
Safety Christian Izier leads Rutgers with 34 tackles and cornerback Max Melton is a three-year starter.
Advantage: Ohio State
SPECIAL TEAMS
Ohio State has attempted one field goal and punted three times in its last two games.
Rutgers kicker Jude McAtamney is 6 for 8 on field goals. He is from Northern Ireland and played Gaelic football. Punter Adam Korsaki averages 42.1 yards per punt.
Advantage: Ohio State
